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The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, after receiving a referral from Child Protective Services for investigation of allegations of sexual assault by contact, has made an arrest of a member of the athletic staff at the Center Point Independent School District.
According to a KCSO press release, the case began with an outcry made by multiple students regarding inappropriate physical contact by the employee to CPISD staff, who notified CPS. The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division began working on the case on or about April 20, 2022.
The suspect was alleged to have had close contact with multiple students throughout the course of this school year, including contact that was described as uncomfortable and/or sexual in nature. The release states that at least one alleged victim was under the age of 17.
CPISD Athletic Director Damian Patrick Van Winkle, 47, of Center Point, was arrested on a count of Indecency with a Child by Contact, a 2nd Degree Felony offense. At the time of the arrest, Van Winkle was on paid leave from CPISD pending the outcome of the CPS and KCSO investigation.
Van Winkle is currently in the Kerr County Jail pending a bond hearing. Reports state that Van Winkle is a 20-year veteran educator with several previous positions within school districts and has been employed with Center Point ISD for 9 months.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha released a statement saying, “Our investigators worked seamlessly with other organizations to discern the facts and prevent further offenses by this administrator. The alleged violations of trust by a senior school official are deeply concerning.”
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